Improvement in car-couplings



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D. B. vEBERLY CAR-COUPLINGS. No. `195,110.' Y vPatented Sept. 11, 1877.

NPETERS, FHOTO-LITHOGRAFHER. WASNINGTON. D. C.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE,

DAVID B. EBERLY, OF PINE VILLAGE, INDIANA.

IMPROVEMENT IN cAR-couPLlNes.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. B95, llt), datedSeptember 11, 1877; application led April 14, 1877.

To all whom it may concern:

Be Vit known that I, DAVID B. EBERLY, of Pine Village, Warren county,State of Indiana, have invented an Improvement in Gar- Gouplings, ofwhich the following is a specification:

My invention relates to improvements in methods of coupling anduncoupling the ordi nary link-couplings of railroad-cars, and in theprovision of means for uncoupling automatically when one of the carswhich the coupling unites leaves the track accidentally, the automaticuncoupling serving to prevent the remaining cars from leaving the track.

My invention consists of a combination of levers and shaft, by which thecoupling-pin may be elevated by the operator from the side ofthe car andpermitted to fall to connect the coupling-link, the levers being socombined that when the pin is coupled it shall rest with its fullweight, and the weight of the lever which operates it, down upon thecoupling-box, and at the same time freedom is given to the shaft and itsoperating-lever for accidental movements, shocks, slight displacements,&c., without any effect being produced thereby on said coupling-pin.

My invention consists, secondly, in combination, with the shafts whichoperate the two pins of the coupling, of connecting-chains at the sidesof the cars, loosely connecting the levers of said shaft, so that wheneither of the cars leave the track the chain upon the opposite side tothat on which the car leaves will be drawn taut and serve to detach thecoupling, so as to permit the car which has left the track to proceedwithout dragging the remaining cars from the track, theconnecting-chains breaking after the coupling is detached.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a vertical section of the endsof two cars in the act of coupling. Fig. 2 is a plan of the same5pandFig. 3 is a perspective view, showing the actions of the side chains.

A A represent the contiguous ends of two cars; B B', the coupling-box ofthe same. C C represent the two coupling-pins, and D the link. Eachcoupling-box is provided with a sliding block, E, having a forward lip,c, to support the pin when it is up, this block being forced outward bya coiled spring, F, when the pin has been raised sufficiently to enableit to do so, the spring resting against the fixed partition G, and theblock being secured in place by a guiding and sliding pin, H. When thecars come'together, and the link is in place, the end of the link forcesthis block E back against its spring and permits the pin to drop, thespace between the lip and the face of the block giving room for thethickness of the link, so that when the pin drops it shall not fall uponthe end of the link, but into its place.

To the framing of the car I attach bearings I, which support thecross-shaft J; and at each side of the car I provide the shaft withhandlevers K, by which it may be rotated partially, the shaft at themiddle having a double-arm lever, L, which encompasses the coupling-box,and is adapted to rest against the under side of the link and carry thesame when either of the levers K is operated.

By means of this shaft and levers the operator is enabled to lift thelink from a position at the side of the car, so that, as the cars cometogether, the link enters properly into the opposite coupling, and makesits connection automatically.

Across the ends ofthe cars I also provide a shaft, M, having levers N ateach end, by which it may be operated; and on this shaft, at the middle,I form a rigid arm, O, as shown, by which the lever P is lifted. Thelever P, which lifts the pin, has a loose swiveling action upon theshaft M, and passes through the ring Q, which supports the pin.

In stock-cars and freight-cars the levers P may have eyes formed at theends for the attachment of rods or cords R, through which an operator atthe top of the cars may operate the coupling-pins.

By means of the loose shackling connection between the levers N O, shaftM, and the levers P, the latter are permitted to rest firmly with theirentire weight upon the pins when coupled, and at the same time theshafts and levers N O may be displaced, struck accidentally, orotherwise interfered with to some extent Without any interference withthe position of the pins being occasioned thereby.

By reason of this shackling connection the levers N have to be moved aconsiderable distance before any lifting action takes place upon thepins, and this is an important construction. The ends of the levers Nare formed into hooks or eyes n, and when the cars are coupled I connectthese ends of the levers N by the side chains S, han ging somewhatloosely when attached.

In case of accident, resultingin one of the cars leaving the track, thechain S upon the side opposite to that upon which the car leaves thetrack is drawn taut, so much so that either one or both ofthecoupling-pins is lifted from the link, which is thereby released, andthe car which has left the track is permitted to pass off Withoutdragging the remaining cars behind from the track, the chains S breakingafter the cars are uncoupled.

In testimony of which invention I hereuntov set my hand.

DAVID B. EBERLY. Witnesses:

JOHN E. JONES, EDGAR J. GROSS.

